65% Lower Rate of Foot, Leg Amputations in Just Over a Decade
Jan. 24, 2012 -- There has been a dramatic drop in the rate of diabetes-related amputations in the U.S., and experts attribute the improvement to better management of risk factors that lead to the loss of feet and legs.
The amputation rate declined by 65% among adults with diabetes in a little over a decade, the CDC reports.
Foot and leg amputations occurred in 4 out of every 1,000 adults with diabetes in 2008, compared to 11 out of every 1,00 in 1996, the CDC reports.
Non-injury-related amputation rates were still eight times higher among those with diabetes than adults without the disease.
Nevertheless, the decline shows that efforts to reduce the complications of diabetes are having a major impact, says American Diabetes Association President of Medicine and Science Vivian Fonseca, MD.
“This is very encouraging and important news for people with diabetes,” he says. “The decline confirms the tremendous progress we have made in translating research into practice."
What Your Feet Say About Your Health
Diabetes-Related Amputations Down
Nerve damage or neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes, especially among people who have had the disease for many years.
Poor control of diabetes, such as prolonged high blood sugar, low insulin levels, and high blood pressure, are believed to be major contributors to diabetes-related nerve damage.
According to this new study, foot and leg amputation rates serve as an important gauge of the effectiveness of efforts to reduce diabetes complications by controlling these risk factors.
Researchers analyzed data from two national surveys to determine the prevalence of diabetes-related leg and foot amputations in adults aged 40 and over.
Among the major findings:
· Between 1996 and 2008, the rate of leg and foot amputations among adults with diabetes declined by 65%, with men having three times the rate of amputations as women (6 per 1,000 vs. 2 per 1,000).
· Amputation rates were higher among blacks than whites (5 per 1,000 vs. 3 per 1,000).
· Those over the age of 75 had the highest rate of amputations.
The study will appear in the February issue of the journal Diabetes Care.
Keep a Close Eye on Your Feet
While the decline is encouraging, CDC epidemiologist Nilka Rios Burrows, MPH, says much more could be done to reduce amputation rates among diabetic people.
“The message to patients and their doctors is that addressing the modifiable risk factors for diabetes complications can have a huge impact,” she says.
That means aggressive medical management of blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and keeping a close eye on your feet.
“A foot exam should be part of every medical visit,” Burrows says. “If the doctor doesn’t mention it, the patient should. And people with diabetes should check their own feet every day to look for sores or injury.”
Other recommendations for diabetic people from the CDC’s National Diabetes Education Program include:
· Wash your feet every day, keep feet soft with lotion or petroleum jelly, smooth corns and calluses gently, and trim toenails frequently.
· Wear shoes and socks at all times to minimize the risk of injury.
· Protect feet from extreme heat and cold.
· Remain active and do other things to promote blood flow to feet.
· Discuss foot care with your doctor.
Showing posts with label non healing ulcers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label non healing ulcers. Show all posts
Friday, January 27, 2012
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
To Bandage or Not to Bandage
Q: What is the best way to treat diabetic ulcers on the legs? I have new ones every day and it's hard to decide if they should be bandaged or not. They are always seeping. Please send some advice.
A: Leg ulcers can indeed be difficult and frustrating to treat, and they usually take a long time to heal. Treatment recommendations have changed over the years; it's confusing to decide what to do. Unfortunately, the treatment of leg ulcers is not simple. Specific therapy depends on the cause, size and depth, location and duration of the ulcer. That's why there is not just one answer to the question. What Dr. Benjamin Weaver suggests is to work with your doctor to develop the best treatment plan for your specific situation.
A: Leg ulcers can indeed be difficult and frustrating to treat, and they usually take a long time to heal. Treatment recommendations have changed over the years; it's confusing to decide what to do. Unfortunately, the treatment of leg ulcers is not simple. Specific therapy depends on the cause, size and depth, location and duration of the ulcer. That's why there is not just one answer to the question. What Dr. Benjamin Weaver suggests is to work with your doctor to develop the best treatment plan for your specific situation.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
New Wound Treatment for Non-healing Foot Ulcers
Results are expected by the end of the month in an efficacy study on a new drug that promises to improve diabetic wound care. Derma Sciences is wrapping up work on a phase 2 trial of DSC127, a drug already shown to speed up healing in animal tests.
According to Barry Wolfenson, executive vice president of global business development and marketing for the company, the study's last patient came aboard September 27, and the trial was set to wrap by the end of December 2010. After crunching the numbers, the company will be able to say how many patients' wounds were completely healed by the end of the 12-week study period.
"Should the DSC127 trial generate positive outcomes, we believe we will be able to attract several potential partners to handle further clinical testing of this drug and ultimately bring another treatment option to market for the millions of diabetics with chronic, non-healing foot ulcers," said company chairman and CEO Edward Quilty.
How does DSC127 work? Skin contains receptors for a natural peptide called angiotensin, and DSC127 is an analog of that peptide. In other words, it's a near-duplicate of what our own bodies produce--with one important difference. In its natural form, angiotensin raises blood pressure. According to Derma Sciencies, DSC127 does not. When applied to a wound, the drug appears to speed the growth of new skin without side effects.
Derma Sciences' phase 2 study includes a 12-week measure of durability. While early results should come out this month, that means that the study technically ends on March 27, Wolfenson said. More number crunching and and submission of a report to the FDA will take place afterward.
In November, the Princeton, NJ-based medical company received a $244,479 research and development grant for its work on DSC127 as part of the US healthcare reform bill. One billion dollars in the legislation was set aside for projects that address unmet needs or chronic conditions or could cut healthcare costs.
"Not only does this grant represent a non-dilutive source of financing, but we also are pleased that the US government has recognized the potential for DSC127 to make a significant difference in patient care," Quilty said
Clay Wirestone
Jan 11, 2011
According to Barry Wolfenson, executive vice president of global business development and marketing for the company, the study's last patient came aboard September 27, and the trial was set to wrap by the end of December 2010. After crunching the numbers, the company will be able to say how many patients' wounds were completely healed by the end of the 12-week study period.
"Should the DSC127 trial generate positive outcomes, we believe we will be able to attract several potential partners to handle further clinical testing of this drug and ultimately bring another treatment option to market for the millions of diabetics with chronic, non-healing foot ulcers," said company chairman and CEO Edward Quilty.
How does DSC127 work? Skin contains receptors for a natural peptide called angiotensin, and DSC127 is an analog of that peptide. In other words, it's a near-duplicate of what our own bodies produce--with one important difference. In its natural form, angiotensin raises blood pressure. According to Derma Sciencies, DSC127 does not. When applied to a wound, the drug appears to speed the growth of new skin without side effects.
Derma Sciences' phase 2 study includes a 12-week measure of durability. While early results should come out this month, that means that the study technically ends on March 27, Wolfenson said. More number crunching and and submission of a report to the FDA will take place afterward.
In November, the Princeton, NJ-based medical company received a $244,479 research and development grant for its work on DSC127 as part of the US healthcare reform bill. One billion dollars in the legislation was set aside for projects that address unmet needs or chronic conditions or could cut healthcare costs.
"Not only does this grant represent a non-dilutive source of financing, but we also are pleased that the US government has recognized the potential for DSC127 to make a significant difference in patient care," Quilty said
Clay Wirestone
Jan 11, 2011
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